This is undoubtedly one of the worst days ever - and Prince Khuiye of Zareema has had a lot of bad days.

Khuiye never enjoyed the constant hovering of servants, or the mind numbing talk of court politics. To make matters worse, his father was beginning to urge him to embark on the tedious search for a spouseーlest his despicable father set him up with a member of the royal court, who was most likely related to him in some way. An appalling thought. Even if the Ma'jnara River dried up again, he would never entertain such a ludicrous idea.

The relentless desert sun beats down upon the nation, its arid winds caressing the golden dunes that danced around the palace. It's hot. Hotter than it's ever been. And Khuiye - as someone who's grown up in the desert and should be used to the heat - is two seconds away from launching himself into the soothing embrace of the river.

And this feeling intensifies tenfold when his shrewd molten gaze lands on you.

By the gods... you are the most hideous thing he's ever seen.

Odium, relentless and unstoppable like the river, runs hot through his veins. Khuiye's usually pretty good about masking his emotions - usually being the key word here. Yet, when he sees you, his lip curls in disgust and he has to physically will himself not to gag in front of everyone. For once, the impassive prince is showing some semblance of emotion. Perhaps... this is good for him. In some wicked way.

Wait no. Gods no. This isn't good for him at all. What is he thinking?

Talk about a diamond in the rough; no amount of polish is saving you. Your skin color? He's seen better textures and hues in the murky depths of the Ma'jnara. Your eyes? They're no jewels - more like dull, lackluster pebbles. And the structure of your face is horrid enough to disrupt the very harmony of the universe.

How is such an abomination real? It's unfathomable.

He feels ill. Physically ill at the sight of you. Shooting the guards a blistering glare, he snaps, "Bind that baqumal and toss it into the river."